Background The age of cochlear implant (CI) is a crucial factor that affects auditory skills and speech outcome in children after CI. Speech and auditory skills outcome using the Arabic form of the LittlEARS Auditory Questionnaire (LEAQ) on Arabic-speaking cochlear-implanted children is not sufficiently studied.
Objective The aim of the present study was to assess. the use of the Arabic form of the LEAQ to determine the effect of age of CI on the outcome of auditory skills in children with CIs, to enhance better intervention protocols for children in need of CI and to achieve the best communicative skills for those children.
Patients and methods A total of 45 children with CI were classified into three groups according to their ages, and they were assessed using the Arabic version of LEAQ preoperatively as well as 6 and 18 months after mapping.
Results Significant improvement in auditory skills and speech was reported in the three groups. The improvement was highly significant in the youngest group in comparison with the other two groups 6 and 18 months after mapping. In addition, speech and auditory skills were highly significant in each group after CI.
Conclusion The age of the child at which CI is placed is a crucial factor in speech and auditory skills development. The earlier the age of CI, the better the result.